Voting-booth.



Patented Aug. 28, I900.

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

J. H. RAFTER.

VOTING BOOTH.

A phcanon filed May 19 1900 y {No Model.)

IN V5 N 709 WITNESSES A TTORNE YS 1 cams Pans co, PHOTDLIYHO. msnmmou. a. c

No. 657,029. Patented Aug. 28, I900. J. H. RAFTEB.

VOTING BOOTH.

(Application filed May 19, 1900.l

2 Sheats--$haet 2.

(No Model.)

IN VE N TOR WITNESSES A77 NEYS m: uoams mus c0. mmo-umo wnsmmTON. n. c

Nrrnn' STATES PATENT OFFICE. 7

JOHN H. RAFTER, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY! VOTING-BOOTH.

srncirrearron forming part of Letters Patent No. 657,029, dated August as, 190

Application filed May 19, 1900. Serial No. 17,276. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN H. RAFTER, a citizen of the United States, residing in Jersey City, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Voting-Booths, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in voting-booths; and the object of the invention is to provide a voting-booth structure which may be folded into small compass for storage, but of such construction as that when one of said structures is properly set up and connected with a similar structure a votingbooth afiording perfect secrecy to the voter is obtained, each structure added to the line forming with the adjacent structure an additional booth.

The invention consists of certain combinations of operative parts, which will be more fully described hereinafter and finally claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a plurality of voting-booths formed by connecting a plurality of my improved voting-booth structures. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of two adjacent structures connected to form a booth. Figs. 3 and 4 are elevations taken from opposite sides of an individual structure after it is folded up ready for storage. Fig. 5 is an elevation of an individual structure; and Fig. 6 is a horizontal section on line 6 6, Fig. 4.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings, A represents an upright frame, preferably of wood, which is constructed of two uprights or posts ct a, and upper, intermediate, and lower cross-pieces a a (t respectively, the upper cross-piece a being arranged at such height as to preclude a person standing at the side of the frame from looking over said cross-piece, and the intermediate cross-piece being arranged at a convenient writing height for a person so standing. The upper of the two panels B and 0 thereby formed is closed by a filling 1), preferably of sheet metal, secured to one side of the frame, while the lower panel is left open. To the rear post a of the frame A is hinged a back piece I), also preferably of sheet metal, which is provided at its outer edge with a backwardly-bent flange b that is adapted to interlock with a ledge or cleat b attached to the rear post a of the adjacent frame and secured therein by buttons bfl'pivoted to the back piece and engag ing the post, as shown in the figures. To the intermediate cross-piece (t is hinged a shelf D, the length of which does not exceed the height of the upper closed panel, so that the shelf can be folded up between the crosspieces a and a and retained in position by.

swinging the hinged back piece I) alongside the panel, as shown in Fig. 3. Buttons b arranged upon the upper and intermediate cross-pieces, are then turned over the back piece I), so as to retain it in folded position. To the upper part of the front post ct is applied by spring-hinges d a sheet-metal door E,'said door being turned by the spring-hinges normally parallel with the frame and retained in such position by buttons d, as shown in Fig. 4. The intermediate crosspiece of the main frame is provided with a socket or cleat d which is adapted to receive an angle-iron d applied to the end of the shelf, so that the latter when lowered can be interlocked with the cross-piece and frame of the adjacent structure.

To make up a complete voting-booth, two of the votingbooth structures above described are necessary. For setting up the booth the back piece of one structure is swung into open position-i. 8., at right angles to its frame-and connected with the rear post of the adjacent structure in the manner described. The door of the second structure is then swung open and the shelf of the first connected with the frame of the second. This last operation locks the two frames firmly to gether at the properdistance from each other, so that the doorof the second structure,which is the door of the booth, cannot swing in wardly into the booth, but abuts at its outer edge against the front post ct of the first structure. The door of the first structure is left in normal folded position, as is also the back piece of the second structure, as shown in Fig. 2. To form a second booth, at third structure is connected with either the first or second in the same manner as the first and second are connected with each other. Any

desired number of booths may be formed by the addition of the necessary booth structures or units, the addition of each structure adding a booth to the number. To take down the booths for storage, the shelf of each structure is folded up into the upper panel, the back piece is closed, thereby securing the shelf in the panel, and the hinged door secured also in folded position by the buttons.

The entire structure is preferably painted white, so as to reflect the light. The structure described forms a durable, comparatively-cheap, and very compact unit for setting up any desired number of voting-booths, the booths so formed affording perfect secrecy to the voter. A special advantage is that when folded up the shelf is completely inclosed and in no danger of being broken off, and there are no loose parts whereby storage or handling would be rendered inconvenient or difficult.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A voting-booth structure, consisting of a frame having a closed upper portion, a shelf hinged to said frame and folding adjacent to said upper portion, a back piece hinged to the rear edge of said frame and folding over the shelf at one side of the frame, and a door hinged to the front edge of the frame and folding against the opposite side of the same adjacent to said upper portion, substantially as set forth.

2. A voting-booth structure, consisting of a frame having a closed upper portion, a shelf hinged to said frame and folding adjacent to said upper portion, a back piece hinged to the rear edge of said frame and folding over the shelf at one side of the frame, a door hinged to the front edge of the frame and folding against the opposite side of the frame adjacent to said upper portion, and means for retaining said back piece and door respec- 3. A voting-booth structure, consisting of a frame having a closed upper portion, a socket applied to said frame, a shelf hinged to said frame and provided at its end with an angleiron for engaging the socket of an adjacent similar structure, a back portion hinged to said frame and provided with a backwardlybent flange for engaging said adjacent structure, and a door hinged to said frame, substantially as set forth.

4. A voting-booth structure, consisting of a frame having a closed upper portion, a shelf hinged to said frame and provided at its outer end with a fastening device, a back piece hinged to said frame and having a backwardly-bent flange and fastening devices at its outer end, and a cleat on said frame, at the rear edge of the same, for receiving the flange of the back piece of a similar structure, substantially as set forth.

5. A voting-booth, consisting of two structures, each consisting of a frame having an upper closed portion, a shelf hinged to said frame, a back piece hinged to the rear edge of the frame and extending from the same in one direction, and a door hinged to the front edge of the frame and extending from the same in the opposite direction, the shelf and back piece of the first structure being connected with the second structure, and the door of said second structure abutting against the frame of the first and serving as the door of the booth, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN H. RAFTER. 

